Author Archives: Justin Fox

Game Over

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When I got back from Koh Samui earlier in the year I arrived home to a parcel from Ubisoft containing a copy of “The Division” in my mailbox (read my original review of the game here).

I’ve been pretty much hooked on it since then and I’ve truly clocked the game with well over 1000 hours, 4 characters and 7 min-maxed gear sets. It’s a loot based game, but I spend my time helping others get loot these days… game aside, yesterday I had a mate come over to check up on me. He’d noticed I’ve been a bit MIA lately (he’s not the only one who’s concerned!).

Robbie was outside pressing the doorbell, calling my phone, sending messages, he even got into my backyard and knocked on the back door too. Where was I? In gaming land of-course. Noise cancelling headphones on, they just shut the whole outside world off.

Not the first wake-up call. I’ve lost a lot of balance this year, on purpose btw. It’s been an interesting experience trying to re-define my values on guilt, balance and what truly makes me happy and what I want to continue doing for the rest of my life. What I do know, for sure, is that there’s only one reason for me to be on this planet; and that’s to inspire others, which is something I’ve not been doing much of lately as gaming is grinding, and there’s really not much to show at the end of 1000+ gaming hours.

Might sound a little drastic, but Robbie took the PC gaming rig (it’s Veds machine not mine, I was just borrowing it) from me right then and there and packed it into his car. It’s gone!!!

PS: I’m really going to miss the guys I’ve been conversing and playing with in the game a lot, especially the friendly European guys in the early mornings and Aussies and New Zealanders in the afternoons who I’ve grown to love over the past 5 months. The guys I’ve been playing with are mostly my age (40’s), they’ve got families, and they’re professionals; one is a photographer, one is a chef, one was a director of a large photography agency which focused on war photography and is now a curator… whilst we’re playing the game and shooting shit we’re actually talking about life at the same time, it’s a serious hook and one I’ll miss a lot.

/rant.

Posted in Games | 7 Comments

Catch ups with Liz

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Had an old friend stay with me last week. Liz, who I met in my early 20’s through my ex-Caryn (who I went out with for 7 years). Liz and I would always take up the most room on the dance floor (cause our moves man! They were fucking wild!), and be the last few on it too. We even lived together at one point, seems like so many lives ago now!

I’ve not seen Liz in years, but as expected, the catch up was awesome! Deep D&M’s, we even had a fight at one stage (and yup I was put in my place haha!). She’s a powerhouse of energy, a Goddess, a sister. I’m so proud of her. I’ve got her back, always.

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Nike x ZEN

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I got an email from Nike Australia the other day, almost fell off my chair! They needed some help to find some hot cars to display at an event, this is what went down: http://www.zengarage.com.au/2016/08/zen-x-nike

Foot in the door, hopefully! Would love to work with Nike some more in future.

Posted in Cars, Zen Garage | 1 Comment

Design Hat

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Got my design hat on lately. I’m training Star up to be a graphic designer and so we’re taking on jobs cheap, just to get as much experience as possible.

A couple of jobs above which are still WIP (sharing is caring!). 50th Anniversary logo and van livery for Filter Supplies, a logo for Volante Rosso, a workshop for race and exotic cars and also a logo for some WTAC T-Shirts I’d like to print up for our media team this year.

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Sydney Car Scene Interview

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I had Dylan and Liam; a couple of students from the JMC Academy, approach me at a previous EOMM about an interview for a documentary they were making on the Sydney car scene. The guys came over to mine yesterday to film, was super chill. Their open ended questions let me ramble (which is what I do best haha!) and they got some footage of the GT-R too. Looking forward to what these guys come up with (and also who else they interview!). I’ll be sure to share their finished doco when it’s ready!

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Dillion USA Phoenix

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Mother of Pearl.

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Egyptian Goddess. Whack!

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So unique in white, right?!

Another great sub $500 pick-up off an American guy on eBay! I’m still on the hunt for a Les Paul, or an SG, but this thing comes pretty damn close! It’s a left-handed Dillion USA Phoenix (made in Korea) which is a replica of a 1963 Gibson Firebird. Their time warp early 90’s web site is amazing LOL!).

She’s heavy, both in sound and weight! Definitely the heaviest guitar I’ve ever owned (some believe heaviness translates to fat tones and more sustain). It’s got an old school painted neck but super low action. Doesn’t feel anything like a metal shredder (typically wider and thinner necks) but it plays great, sounds great and is just an awkwardly unique thing which comes with a right handed bag, can’t sit up against the wall, or on a guitar stand! I love it!

Dillion DFB-603 RX Specs:
• Solid seamless 2 piece Mahogany body 

• Bound set Mahogany neck with Rosewood fingerboard.
• Grover USA gears with 18 to 1 ratio.
• White Pearl large block inlays.
• 22 hand polished 2.9 mm super jumbo frets
• Bone nut
• Dillion custom roller bridge
• Three Dillion vintage Alnico 5 humbucking pickups

• 3 volume, 1 tone, plus 3 way switch 

• 12″ Radius 

• 24 3/4 scale 

• 1 11/16 nut width

Posted in Music | Leave a comment

Clocked it

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My 1.3 Tactician build.

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On the run.

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Love my roadie jacket!

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How do you like my airmaxes?

900+ hours. I’ve well and truly clocked the Division, and it’s looking like the game is dying, as I have less and less “friends” online to play with. It’s been real fun though, and like anything I choose to get into I think I’ve gotten good at it, but unlike other things I’ve been obsessive compulsive about; gaming is different in that there’s nothing to show for all I’ve put in.

Do what you love, sure, but I can’t help but feel a bit of guilt and general imbalance in playing games for 8+ hours a day. Maybe it’s because there’s less to share in comparison to other hobbies of mine (say for example making music or taking photos), or maybe it’s because it’s a bit further outside of the art realm?

Gaming is a beast. You grind, hard, and sure, some people have managed to make a living out of it (I’m amazed at the quality of the videos the gaming youtubers create, namely MarcoStyle and Skill Up), but it’s not for me (I’ve got to get back to the real world!).

PS: Can’t not mention the community workings around the game. Reddit, specifically The Division Reddit has been an integral part of enjoying the game. I’m a Reddit noob, but seeing the games developers utilise Reddit, youtubers, a community manager, and Twitch over Facebook, Instagram and everything else we do with Zen has been an eye opener.

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Frida at AGNSW

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Always stops me in my tracks. Rosalie Gascoigne.

gleeson
Always pay a visit to this guy, a James Gleeson piece I studied in high school

Went to see Frida with Krysti, but it was a sold out event (what?!).

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Sennheiser G4ME ONE Gaming Headset

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Came in a sexy black box.

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Box in a box! Lovely on Sennheiser to include a carry case!

details
Tight details. When you lift the mic up it mutes the mic, very nice!

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I’ve been using a Gamecom Plantronics gaming headset recommended to me by the staff at EB Games, but people in The Division have been complaining about feedback since I started using them, and if the volume knob on the headphones isn’t up all the way sound comes out from the left side only, which leads me to think they’re rubbish, so since I’ve upgraded my controller I thought I’d upgrade my headset too, this time I went for a brand I know!

Posted in Games | 2 Comments

Lunar White Xbox Controller

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I’m still playing The Division (“zengarage” on Uplay), and I’m still using an Xbox controller on PC (even though I’m a die hard keyboard and mouse guy). The Xbox controller I had been using was on it’s way out (my player was stuck moving forward which made aiming hard and going through menus annoying too). I’ve stuck with the same, but upgraded to the Special Edition Lunar White Wireless Xbox One Controller. It looks nice, but more importantly it feels amazing! That tiny bit of texture on the back of the controller makes a world of difference.

Posted in Games | 1 Comment